The Grammar of Focus
The Grammar of Focus

Author: Georges Rebuschi

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 382

ISBN-13: 9789027227454

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The grammar of focus has been studied in generative grammar from its inception. It has been the subject of intense, detailed cross-linguistic investigation for over 20 years, particularly within the Principles and Parameters framework. It is appropriate at this point, therefore, to take stock. Appraisal at this particular point is all the more legitimate because it comes at a time of general evaluation of the results of the profound activity that has characterized the Principles and Parameters framework. This general assessment has produced a radical new direction within that framework. The volume starts off with an introductory chapter that aims to provide an outline for the assessment, to be followed by an overview of the evolution of the study of focus in generative grammar, and a recapitulation of the principal issues associated with focus. These issues are taken up in the remaining chapters of the book, where various grammatical means of marking focus (as well as grammaticalization of focus marking) are analyzed in a wide variety of languages.

Focus Structure in Generative Grammar
Focus Structure in Generative Grammar

Author: Carsten Breul

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 2004-01-01

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 9789027227928

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The notion of focus structure in this work refers to the distinction between categorical, thetic and identificational sentences. The central claim is that the syntactic representation of every sentence has to encode which of these types of focus structure is realized. This claim is discussed in great detail with respect to syntax, intonation and semantics within the framework of the Minimalist Program. It is shown that the incorporation of focus structure into syntax offers new perspectives for a solution of vexing problems in syntax and semantics. For example, fronting (preposing, 'topicalisation') is treated as a syntactic operation which clearly belongs to core grammar, i.e. is not optional or 'stylistic'; the semantic notion of quantifier raising is dispensed with in favour of a focus structural treatment of phenomena which gave rise to it. The book appeals to generative linguists and to functional linguists who do not believe in an unbridgeable gap between the formal and functional analysis of language.

Focus in Generative Grammar
Focus in Generative Grammar

Author: Michael S. Rochemont

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 1986-01-01

Total Pages: 235

ISBN-13: 9027286337

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The topic of this book is the notion of ‘focus’ and its linguistic characterization. The main thesis is that focus has a uniform grammatical identification only as a syntactic element with – in English at least – a certain systematic phonological interpretation and – presumably universally – a range of semantic interpretations. In broad respects, the framework within this investigation is conducted is that of Chomsky & Lasnik (1977) and the subsequent Government and Binding framework. After considering defining the location of prominence in a focused phrase in terms of constituent structure, the author argues that an argument structure approach to the focus phrase/prominence relation is more promising. This is then exemplified in analyses of cleft focus and constructional focus.

FOCUS in the Theory of Grammar and the Syntax of Hungarian
FOCUS in the Theory of Grammar and the Syntax of Hungarian

Author: Julia Horvath

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2019-11-18

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 311084916X

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The architecture of the human language faculty has been one of the main foci of the linguistic research of the last half century. This branch of linguistics, broadly known as Generative Grammar, is concerned with the formulation of explanatory formal accounts of linguistic phenomena with the ulterior goal of gaining insight into the properties of the 'language organ'. The series comprises high quality monographs and collected volumes that address such issues. The topics in this series range from phonology to semantics, from syntax to information structure, from mathematical linguistics to studies of the lexicon.

Focus on Grammar 1
Focus on Grammar 1

Author: Irene Schoenberg

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 314

ISBN-13: 9780132455916

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Through controlled and communicative exercises this text helps students to bridge the gap between identifying grammatical structures and using them. Each unit progresses through four steps: grammar in context, grammar presentation, focused practice and communication practice. Includes circling, matching, filling-in-the-blank, underlining, correcting, completion, short answer and writing exercises.

Ellipsis and Focus in Generative Grammar
Ellipsis and Focus in Generative Grammar

Author: Susanne Winkler

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter

Published: 2011-12-22

Total Pages: 309

ISBN-13: 3110890429

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Covering linguistic research on empty categories over more than three decades, this monograph presents the result of an in-depth syntactic and focus-theoretical investigation of ellipsis in generative grammar. The phenomenon of ellipsis most generally refers to the omission of linguistic material, structure and sound. The central aim of this book is to explain on the basis of linguistic theorizing of how it is possible that we understand more than we actually hear. The answer developed throughout this book is that ellipsis is an interface phenomenon which can only be explained on the basis of the complex interaction between syntax, semantics and information structure. Scholars of grammar and cognitive scientists will profit from reading this book.